It’s hard to imagine a worse start than Jim Boylen’s first few weeks as the head coach of the Bulls.

The practice. The meeting. The media coverage. The losses. The head-scratching quotes.

On the court, Boylen’s intentional slowdown produced one of the least efficient offenses the league had seen in decades. The Bulls were getting blown out on a regular basis as some players openly questioned his offensive strategy. The rest of the league wondered what the heck was going on in Chicago. Boylen, while signed through next season on an enhanced contract, didn’t look long for the job.

But Boylen has not only survived, he’s thrived. It’s impossible to ignore how well his team is playing by winning six of its last 10 and losing those four games by only a combined 28 points. That’s making tanking enthusiasts nervous, but it’s tough to deny there is actual enthusiasm about the Bulls’ on-court product for the...